Senate to vote on Clean Water Rule today as endorsements roll in for Barrasso bill

The Senate is expected to vote at 2:30 p.m. EST today on a bill (S. 1140) that would stop the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from implementing the Clean Water Rule, also known as the Waters of the United States rule, and restart the rulemaking process.

But the motion to proceed requires 60 votes, which is a high bar for the controversial legislation.

Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., a lead sponsor of the bill, noted today in a news release that the backers of the bill include the American Farm Bureau Federation, National Cattlemen's Beef Association, National Association of Home Builders, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association, American Public Power Association, National Federation of Independent Business and the American Road & Transportation Builders Association.

The National Federation of Independent Business and U.S. Chamber of Commerce are also scoring the measure as a "key" vote on their legislative scorecards, Barrasso added.